Aid to navigation between different water levels



Nov. 2 1926.

DE GASPE BEAUBIEN ET AL AID T0 NAVIGATION B ETWEEN DIFFERENT WATER LEVELS 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8 INVENTURS.

DE GASPE BEAUBIEN.

AND AMES LEONARD BUSFIELD.

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 2, 1926. 1,605,888

. DE GASPE BEAUBIEN ET AL AID T0 NAVIGATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT WATER LEVELQ Filed May 8, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 EYE-WEE W15" h F's" W 75 /NVENTORS I DE GAsPE BEAUBIEN. af z? AND flu W .TAmss LEONARD BUSFIELD.

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 2, 1926.

DE GASPE BEAUBIEN El AL AID T0 NAVIGATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT WATER LEVELS Filed May a, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTURS.

0s GAsP; BEAUBIEN.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

UNlT

STATES DE GASPE BEAUTIEN AND JAMES LEONARD BUSFIELD, F MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

AID T0 NAVIGATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT WATER LEVELS.

Application filed May 8, 1925, Serial No. 28,969, and in Canada August 27, 1924.

This invention relates to navigation and more particularly to channels which connect waters of diii'erentlevels.

The object is to provide a means by whlch a vessel may proceed from one level to another level without stopping.

A further object is to provide means whereby a river may be dammed without impeding navigation.

A further object is to provide a passage way for vessels between waters of difierent levels free from the dangers and delays of the modern locking system. a

In navigable water courses where there is a rapid current caused by a drop in the levels, navigation is dangerous and the upward progress of vessels is slow.

By means of a dam the current maybe reduced to any extent but in order to pro vide a channel for vessels to pass the dam, locks have had to be provided. a

The passing of vessels through locks is a source of delay and also of considerable dan ger owing to the narrow entrances and exits and the changes in speed, stopping and starting of the vessels passing through.

Moreover the time required to pass a vessel through will limit the number of vessels that can pass in a given time.

By means of this invention the delay in passing from one level to another is prac tically eliminated and an almost continuous service is provided.

Tn place of the usual lock with its narrow entrance, confined area and slow operation,

a control channel of the necessary length and ample width is provided with submerged control gates at either end.

By means of these submerged control gates and the length and larger area of the,

channel between the gates, vessels are raised or lowered during their continuous passage through the channel.

The gates are controlled and operated from suitably located towers and a signalling system interlocking with the control mechanism is provided.

Where the traffic is heavy,'two or more parallel channels are constructed, whereby one way passages with greatly increased speed of operation in both directions results.

Our invention relates to systems of navigation particularly designed for use on rivers and other navigable waters, in which delays are all accentuated in the case of large locks suitable for handling large oceangomg vessels.

2. The danger of damage to vessels and locks, owing to the small clearance necessarya 3. In the case of largelocks, great expense is incurred in the operation owing to the'necessity of handling vessels'by locomotives or other mechanicalmeans.

By our invention, these detriments to the present lock system, are obviated in the followmg manner l. The water levels are so controlled that sh1ps may pass uninterruptedly from one level to another without stopping and consequently without any loss of time.

2. Owing to the form of construction it is possible to provide a waterway of such a width and of such clearances as to permit safe and uninterrupted passage of vessels.

The cost of locomotives or other mechanical handling systems would be eliminated.

Again in our invention, we use submersible gates or other structures in which the difference of water head pressure on opposite sides of the gates is easily balanced, and these gates, etc, can in consequence be quickly operated and when such gates are raised the water level above them is raised.

These submersible gates or sub-aqueous structures are so arranged in the channel that on a vessel approaching the same, the gatemay be selectively operated to allow the vessel to proceed uninterruptedly through the channel.

The advantage of our invention will be cleairly appreciated as the specification procee s.

So that the nature of our invention will be'properlv understood we have illustrated two embodiments thereof, one of which shows a channel constructed in the main waterway and traversing the impediment to navigation, and the other shows a profile how our invention is applied in a natural normally unnavigable channel in a river bed or other water.

It will. be understood that we do not wish to limit ourselves to the precise arrangement ill rated, but reserve the right to modify the same within the scope of our appended claims, in which the word channel is to be interpreted as a natural or formed channel.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a 5 river showing two control channels and a dam.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged. vertical cross on the line 22 01 Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the middle of one channel showing a Vessel entering to ascend to a higher level.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section similar to Fig. 3, but showing the vessel leaving the channel after being raised to the higher level.

Fig. 5 is a view in profile of a natural water. channel with our improved system installed and showing the progressive passage of a vessel through the said channel.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the river banks 20, are connected by a dam 21, which separates the upper and lower water levels. Through this dam 21, one or more channels 1, are constructed by means of the walls, embankments or excavations 10, 10.

Towards either end of these channels are a series of submersible control gates 3, 3.

The gates 3, when lowered provide a clear flow through the channel 1. -When the gates 3, are raised they hold the Water above them to the level above the dam 21.

By raising the gates 3, at one end of th channel 1, and lowering the gates 3, at the other end, the level of the water between them can be rapidly changed to either level.

Thus for a vessel passing through the channel 1, upwards tothe higher level, as it approaches the lower entrance 12, of the channel the lower gates 3 are sunk to the bottom of the channel and the upper gates 3, are raised.

The water between the gates 3, assumes the lower level and the vessel 4, enters without ditficulty or stoppage. 3

As soon as the vessel 4, has passed the lower gates 3, they are raised and the upper section gates 3, are lowered the water in the channel 1, rises to the upper level raising the vessel 4, as it proceeds and as the upper gates 3,

'are in the lowered position the vessel 4, passes out and continues its tri p having lost little time and speed in passage through the channel.

When a vessel 5, is passing downwards through the channel 1, the upper gates 3, are lowered and the lower, gates 3, are raised. The vessel 5, enters at high level and as soon as it passes the upper gates 3, they are raised, the lower gates 3, being lowered. The water in the channel 1, drops to the "lower level and the vessel 5, soon is proceeding at the lower level and passes out of the lower end of the channel without interruption.

The design of the gates 3, as shown in the drawings is that of a pivot arc type 31. adapted to sink into a cavity 34, in the bot tom of the channel.

These gates may be operated by means of hydraulic rams in an adjacent tunnel or by any other suitable means.

Suit-able operating towers 6, at each end of the channel 1, are provided and a system of signals 7, 7, interlocking with the gate operating mechanism would be installed.

Referring now to Figure 5, the installation of our invention in the natural channel 1, of a narrow waterway is illustrated, and in this embodiment a plurality of transverse sub mersible gates 40, 41, 42, 43, are illustrated and the progressive passage of a vessel 4, through this channel is indicated.

For instance as the vessel 4, approaches the lower end of the natural channel 1, the gate 40, is lowered and the water level in the lower reach 44, is the same as the lower water level 15, of the river or other navigable waterway.

After the vessel 4, has passed the gate 40, this gate is immediately elevated and the gate 41, lowered and the water levels in the two lower reaches 44 and 45, become the same.

The vessel 4, in the meantime has not stopped and as soon as it passes the gate 41, this gate is raised and the gate 42,'in advance is lowered. The water levels in the reaches 45 and 46 now become the same.

The vessel continues its uninterrupted oas sage through the channel 1, and as soon as it passes the gate 42, this gate is raised and the gate 43, in advance is lowered and the water in the upper reach 46 of the channel 1, is now the same as the water level in the upper stretch 16, of the river or other navigable water.

The vessel now completes its uninterrupt-.

evident from the foregoing description that the gates will be selectively operated in sequence.

As before stated the structures or submersible gates will be operated by suitable means and in selective sequence and if necessary where several gates are being utilized, these may be timed to function in the manner calculated to give the best results.

The working mechanism of the submersible gates has not been illustrated as it (per se) does not constitute our invention and only enter the same in so far as to accomplish the desired operation of the gates, and it will be clear that our invention is not an ordinary canal system, but what we do is to render the natural obstructed waterway or channel, navigable without stops.

What we claim is 1. In a system of navigation between diliterent water levels, the combination of a channel between these levels, having suiticient length and width to permit continuous navigation therethrough, with sub-aqueous control means at the ends 01" the channel, adapted to vary the water level therein.

2. In a system of navigation between different water levels, the combination of a channel between these levels, having suiiicient length and width to permit continuous navigation therethrough, with submersible gates at the ends of the channel adapted to cooperate and to change the water level therein during the passage of a vessel therethrough.

3. In a system of navigation between ditterent water levels, the combination of a channel between these levels, having suflicient length and width to permit continuous navigation therethrough, with submersible control gates at the ends of the channel and means to operate the gates in sequence.

4i. In a system of navigation between diti erent water levels, the combination of a channel between these levels, having suffcient length and width to permit continuous navigation therethrough, with a series of submersible gates situated at remote positions in the channel, adapted to cooperate successively and to change the water level in a continuous direction through the channel.

In a system of navigation between dif ferent water levels, the combination of a dam controlling the upper level, a walled channel extending through the dam, of suitticient length and width to permit continuous navigation therethrough and opening into the waterways at each end. with submers ible gates adapted to control the water level within the channel.

6. In a system of navigation between different water levels, the combination of a dam controlling the upper level, a walled channel extending through the dam and opening into the waterways at each end, oi sufficient length and width to permit con.- tinuous navigation therethrough with a series of submersible gates in the channel adapted to control the water level therein and to operate in sequence to change the water level progressively in one direction through the sections of the channel.

7. In a system of navigation between ditferent water levels, the combination of a walled channel, extending between and open in into the waterways at each end, of sutiiclent length and width to permit continuous navigation therethrough, with a series of submersible gates in the channel, forming continuously navigable sections, adapted to control the water level therein and to operate in sequence to change the water level progressively in one direction through the sections of the channel.

8. The method of continuous navigation between difl'erent water levels comprising passing a vessel from one water level over a submerged gate into a channel connecting the water levels, of sutiicient length and Width to permit of continuous navigation therethrough, while the gate at the other end of the channel is raised, then raising the submerged gate astern of the vessel and submerging the gate ahead of the vessehand passing the vessel through the channel and then over the submerged gate out to the other water level. i

9. The method of continuous navigation between dilterent water levels, comprising passing a vessel from one level over a submerged gate into a channel connecting with the other water level and in which are a series of submersible gates forming continuously navigable sections, the next gate ahead of the vessel being raised, then raising the gate astern oi the vessel and-submerging the gate ahead of the vessel, passing the vessel over the submerged gate into the neat section of the channel, and continuing to submerge the gates immediately ahead of the vessel and to raise the gates immediately astern oithe vessel until it passes out of the channel at the other level.

DE GASPE BEAUBIEN. JAMES LEONARD BUSFIELD.

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